The former head of the Foreign Office, who was recently dismissed, has alleged that the Prime Minister’s office showed a lack of interest in vetting Peter Mandelson. Additionally, he claimed that there was uncertainty about Mandelson undergoing proper vetting procedures.
Following his dismissal by Keir Starmer, Sir Olly Robbins revealed that he felt pressured to secure a prominent position for the Prime Minister’s former aide, Matthew Doyle. These revelations have surfaced amid a political turmoil as Starmer faces challenges to his leadership over the Mandelson controversy.
Sir Olly expressed concerns during his testimony to the Foreign Affairs Committee, stating that there was initial uncertainty regarding Mandelson’s vetting process upon his appointment.
A rift has emerged between No10 and the Foreign Office after it was revealed that Peter Mandelson did not pass security vetting, yet this information was not disclosed to ministers. The Prime Minister expressed outrage over being kept uninformed and criticized the Foreign Office’s handling of the situation.
Stay updated with live developments below….
For more details on Sir Olly Robbins’s revealing testimony, you can access our live coverage or explore the key moments from the session here.
In response to the leak regarding Lord Peter Mandelson’s security vetting, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, announced an inquiry into the unauthorized disclosure of information to The Guardian.
Darren Jones announced a leak inquiry(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Denying assertions that Peter Mandelson was exempt from vetting upon his ambassadorial appointment, Darren Jones clarified that considerations were made due to Mandelson’s affiliations with the House of Lords and Privy Council.
Calls for an independent inquiry into Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment have been made by Labour MP Imran Hussain, highlighting concerns over national security implications and the need for accountability.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticized the PM’s decision to appoint Mandelson, attributing it to appeasing Donald Trump and displaying poor judgment. He also raised concerns about another potential ambassadorial candidate, Matthew Doyle, emphasizing the need for better decision-making.
A Labour backbencher highlighted a toxic culture within No 10 and called for a review of the political processes that led to the Prime Minister’s position and the governance of the country.
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